Basic Negotiations Handbook! 

Please note: This is a simplified document so you can achieve the trained role of “Basic Negotiator” and to assist you to get the skills and confidence which may help if you ever decide to join SCO-19 in the future.

There are 2 Types of Negotiators: Basic and Trained.

Basic Negotiator- This document will cover the information you need to know for progressing and getting better at negotiating.

Trained Negotiator - SCO-19 and Divisional / Gold Command

Introduction 

As a basic negotiator you are to communicate with people who appear to be holding peoples lives at risk and making that first initial contact is important. You need to be calm, control the situation and try to deescalate the situation to the best of your ability. 

The best way to start is by doing the following - 

  “Hello my name is [Rank+Name] with the Metropolitan Police, I am going to be taking basic negotiations for this hostage's life. 

On Scene

As a basic negotiator, it is your job to find out all of the valuable information that can be passed on to the trained negotiator in order for them to conclude the situation in the best way they possibly can. 

What to say:

While waiting for a trained negotiator, you can ask the following questions: 

• Why they have taken this person hostage

• If they have a vehicle ready on scene or if they need an impound vehicle

• If they want money

You should also assess: 

• Their behaviour when speaking to you - are they aggressive? 

• Are their demands realistic? 

• Is it a standard store robbery or is there more roleplay behind it?

• Are they willing to negotiate?

During your time at the scene it is important to have your weapon out at all times and if a trained negotiator is required then you are to radio ASAP.

Rules

There are certain rules you need to follow during negotiations, such as things you can and cannot offer; 

Hostage Prices:

• MAXIMUM Price of hostages: 

  • Civilian - 20k, 

  • NHS and Police - 50k, 

  • Silver Command - 150k, 

  • Gold Command - 200k.
    
    

These prices mean that the hostage taker is entitled to any amount UP TO the maximum amount depending on rank/status however, you can attempt to low the amount by saying "with all those other demands we wont be giving you 20k" REMEBER if they refuse to lower the amount do not issue a warning and give them that amount they are asking for as long as its within the maximum amount.

What not to give

• You can’t give any government issued police weapons, cars or helicopters. 

• You cannot offer any illegal items. 

If you believe that the hostage takers are here to roleplay then please radio in for a trained negotiator in order to facilitate their demands.

After negotiations are finalised and the suspects are leaving, your priority as the negotiator is the hostage. It is your job to secure the hostage in situations as you will have other officers ready to pursue the vehicle. 

It is also very important that you do not shoot the tyres of the vehicle unless you are 100% sure that you have no chance of catching the vehicle. 

If the negotiations have escalated and you are required to call off negotiations you MUST get authorisation from SCO-19 and/or Divisional Command before doing so.

Reasons to Issue Warnings in Negotiations!

• Unrealistic demands (Free passage to plane/helicopter, asking for extreme amounts of money)

• Shooting their firearm

• Shaving the hostages head

• Threating to cause harm to the officers/hostage

• Aiming their weapon at officers (Do not giving a warning for aiming the gun at the hostage)

• Refusing to negotiate (This could lead up to negotiations being called off, do not instantly rush to calling them off if they don't negotiate at first)

Reasons to call off Negotiations!

• Within a police station (This is up to negotiators discretion)

• Issued 3 warnings

• Causing harm to the hostage/officers (Shooting the hostage and hitting them i.e Knocking them out)